Wall facing unit



Sept. 27, 1949. P. J. MAUL WALL meme mm:

Filed Feb. 17, 1947 INVENTOR.

PETER J.M AUL ATTORNEYS Patented Sept. 27, 1949 'UNITED STATES Firm-omen Peter J. Maul, Detroit, Mich., assignor to Macotta Unit Corporation, Detroit, Mich., a corporation I of Maryland Application February 17, 1947, Serial No. 729,023 2 Claims. (Cl. 72 '25) The invention relates to wall facings of that type in which the facing is built up from units having a tongue and groove engagement with each other and each anchored to the supporting wall. It is the object of the invention to obtain an improved unit and to this end the invention consists in the construction as hereinafter set forth.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of a building wall showing a series of facing units applied thereto;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged vertical cross section through an adjacent pair of units in engagement with each other and showing the anchoring means therefor;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a pair of complementary edge strips for forming the border frame of each unit;

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of one of the anchoring members for the units.

In general construction my improyed unit comprises a front panel A preferably of rectangular form and which may be either an enameled metal plate or any other material for forming a weatherproof and ornamental facing. B is a cementitious body applied to the rear of the panel A and secured thereto by suitable anchors C. The length and breadth dimensions of the body B are slightly less than the corresponding dimensions of the panel A and the thickness of the body is suflicient to impart rigidity to the panel. Surrounding the panel A is a frame preferably formed of strips D and E of a non-corrodable metal, such as stainless steel. The cross section of the strip D includes an inverted channel portion D for engaging the edge portion of the panel A which projects beyond the body portion B, an open return bent portion D in rear of the portion D which forms a groove, a closed return bent portion D and an obliquely inclined portion D The latter has a series of apertures D therein and is embedded in the body portion B to form an anchor for holding the strip in engagement with the panel. The strip E has a similar channel portion E for engaging the edge portion of the panel, a return bent portion E which extends beyond the portion E and a closed return bent portion E terminating in an obliquely inclined portion E similar to the portion D of the strip D. The portions E and E together form a tongue for engaging the groove D of the strip D and the return bend E is enlarged in diameter to be slightly greater than the width of the groove so as to form a sealing and friction engagement when inserted in said groove. The frame surrounding the panel has opposite sides thereof formed reto space the same from the portion F.

spectively of the strips D and E. The like strips extending along sides which are transverse to each other. Thus, the unitsmay be assembled in series by engagingthe tongues andgrooves 'of .vertical edges of adjacent units to form ahorizontal row and in the same manner engaging the tongues and grooves of the horizontal edges of adjacent units to extend the facing in a vertical direction. If desired, successive horizontal rows may be staggered in relation to each other as illustrated in Fig. 1.

To hold the facing upon the supporting wall each unit is provided with members F each having an end portion F imbedded in the body B and and outwardly projecting, rearwardly inclined portion F terminating in a portion F which is parallel to the panel A and body B but in a plane in rear thereof. The portion F may be attached to a supporting wall, such as G, by suitable fasteners H thus anchoring the unit and spacing the same in front of said wall. To more firmly anchor the member F the portion imbedded in the body B is preferably slitted longitudinally to form a central tongue F which is laterally bent at F This tongue portion F may be inserted through one of the apertures E of the strip E to interlock these members with each other. Also, the portion F has a series of apertures F therethrough for receiving cement cores and still more securely attaching the member to the unit. Preferably, a series of the members F suitably spaced extends from one of the horizontal edges of the body and a similar series from one of the vertical edges thereof. This firmly secures both a horizontal and a vertical edge of each successively placed unit, while the opposite two edges are interlocked with the previously placed units. In this manner the facing may be extended to cover any desired area. The construction as above described is one which can be readily manufactured and quickly assembled to form a wall facing. The enlarged return bend E of the strip E and the similar enlarged return bend D of the strip D form a weatherproof joint between said strips in successive units. It also introduces a certain degree of friction in the engagement of the tongues with the grooves, which is advantageous in the application of a facing to a building wall.

What I claim as my invention is:

In a wall facing unit of the type comprising a front panel, a cementitious body slightly less in length and breadth in rear of and anchored to said panel and a border frame secured to the edges of said panel; strips forming the several sides of of an adjacent unit, fastener members each having a portion thereof embedded in said cementitious body in interlocking engagement with the anchor portion of one of said strips, and an outwardly and rearwardly extending portion for securing to a supporting wall.

2. In a wall facing unit of the type comprising a front panel, a cementitious body slightly less in length and breadth in rear of and anchored to said panel and a border frame secured to the edges of said panel; strips forming the several sides of said frame, each strip being of a cross section having a channel portion engaging an edge of said panel and an obliquely extending anchor portion imbedded in said cementitious body, the strips on opposite sides of said frame having respectively a projecting tongue and a groove for 4 receiving a tongue of an adjacent unit, said tongue being enlarged at its outer end to a diameter slightly greater than the Width of said groove to form a sealing and friction engagement with the groove of an adjacent unit, fastener members each having two portions thereof imbedded in said cementitious body, one of said portions being interlocked with the tongue-carrying strip, and an outwardly and rearwardly extending portion for securing to a building wall.

PETER J. MAUL.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 453,743 Heller June 9, 1891 536,433 Kolb Mar. 26, 1895 957,382 Schnurr May 10, 1910 1,122,866 Cordes Dec. 29, 1914 1,682,379 Kellett Aug. 28, 1928 1,976,968 Sheldon Oct. 16, 1934 2,067,059 Maul Jan. 5, 1937 2,188,090 Young Jan. 23, 1940 

